Council tax: Don’t spread this unfairness to local levels

As a former police officer, Philip Chambers (Letters, October 22) should know the difference between illegal and legal. Tax evasion is illegal and can fairly easily be countered. Tax avoidance is legal.

Fortunately, the majority of the rich pay their taxes in full. A significant number does not. Because of this, the rest of us have to pay more than our fair share for national services.

I should not like the same unfairness spreading to local services.

It is high time the 1991 market valuation of property was updated. Prices have risen sharply but, as house prices have soared throughout Elmbridge, the difference made by revaluation is likely to be marginal.

Mr Weatherely’s comparison of a small Victorian cottage in Oatlands with a large house in Tony Blair’s constituency is wide of the mark. Property values in Sedgefield have no effect on council tax in Elmbridge.

Mick Moriarty and I have the advantage of having attended Labour Party political forums.

They are not perfect but do give party members an opportunity to recommend policies to the Government. Some are implemented. Some are not.

The Government, after all, has to cost proposals and prioritise them. It also has to act on behalf of all UK people not just party members.

The Socialist Labour Party attracts very little electoral support. If voters knew that SLP policies were very similar to Communist policies they would attract even less.